Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Boise State Downs Nevada on the Road, 74-67

RENO, Nevada--Mikey Thompson led four Broncos in double figures as Boise State held off Nevada 74-67 tonight for their school record-tying 10th consecutive victory. Coach Leon Rice's Broncos are tied for the fifth-longest winning streak in the nation.

Boise State went into halftime ahead 35-24, by the Wolf Pack cut the lead to 35-32 on a dunk by Cameron Oliver. The lead varied from four to 10 points over the next 10 minutes, but Paris Austin's driving layup gave Boise State a 58-46 lead with 6:57 remaining. Austin made one of two free throws to extend the lead to 59-46, a 13-point advantage that Mikey Thompson maintained when he too made one of his two free throws to put Boise State ahead 60-47 with less than five minutes left.

Marqueze Coleman, who was held to just four points in the first half, began taking charge. Coleman's three-pointer cut the margin to 63-52, and then after his layup and jumper on consecutive possessions, all of a sudden it was 63-56.  Nick Duncan's jumper missed, and Coleman was at it again, driving past the befuddled Broncos for another layup.

With 1:12 left, D.J. Fenner also snuck past the Bronco defense for a layup and Nevada trailed 63-60. Rather than continue to take the air out of the ball, a strategy that clearly was not working, Duncan found himself free seven seconds later and let it fly from beyond the arc--nothing but net.

The Nevada fans, who had been whooping it up during the late-game rally, were deflated. Coleman missed on Nevada's next trip down the court, and Thompson's two free throws iced the game.  Anothony Drmic sank four free throws and Duncan two to finish the Bronco scoring.

Boise State advanced to 5-0 in Mountain West Conference play and 13-4 overall, while Nevada dropped to 2-3 and 10-5.

Thompson finished with 18 points, four assists and three rebounds, while James Webb III had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Drmic finished with 13, while Duncan had 11 points and five rebounds and Chandler Hutchison had eight points and 11 rebounds for the Broncos.

Coleman led the Wolf Pack with 17 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, while Fenner had 15 points and Eric Cooper 13.

Boise State returns home Saturday for a clash with one of the favorites to win the Mountain West--San Diego State. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. in Taco Bell Arena. Bronco fans are reminded to allow extra time in getting to the game due to the close of the Broadway Avenue Bridge.